Recently, University High School welcomed a new soccer coach, Connor Fitzgerald, as an addition to its already well-developed athletics program. Coach Fitzgerald brought lots of experience from coaching at various levels, including youth and high school teams, as well as experience playing soccer at the high school and collegiate level.

“My inspiration to become a soccer coach stems from my passion for helping young people grow into the best versions of themselves, both on and off the field,” Fitzgerald said. “Having played soccer for as long as I can remember at various levels, including collegiate, I knew I wanted to stay connected to the game. Coaching felt like the perfect path to channel my experience and fulfill my goal of making an impact on players’ lives while staying connected to the game.”

Fitzgerald’s coaching career began in 2020 with the American Youth Soccer Organization, where he coached a U8 boys’ team. By 2021, he had become the Junior Varsity Head Coach at Pacifica High School, where he stayed for about three years. During that time, he led his team to an impressive 28-15-5 record.

“I wanted to be a part of a program that knew how to win and compete for league titles and CIF Championships,” Fitzgerald said. “UHS soccer was the perfect fit for me.”

The heart of Coach Fitzgerald’s coaching philosophy is the values of discipline and effort, which he believes are the foundation of a successful team. He also emphasized the importance of unity among players.

“The most important quality in a successful team is the bond the players share with one another on and off the field,” Fitzgerald said. “When combined with the relentless fight and the will to succeed, this unity becomes the driving force behind any team’s success.”

As he looked ahead to the upcoming season, Coach Fitzgerald expressed his excitement about his new team. With a focus on building a strong, goal-driven soccer program, Coach Fitzgerald is well-positioned to make an immediate positive impact on the UHS Boys’ Soccer team.